Access to Public Officials

As I walk through the neighborhoods and talk to the residents, one theme has been common, access to public officials (elected and employees).  The residents seem disconnected to the government, sometimes to the point where some residents don’t even know the function of the Supervisor position. Let’s face it; unless we need something from our government we rarely have contact with it, especially on the local level.

As I stated many times I would like to have the residents feel comfortable speaking to government officials, not put off by it. Residents are made to feel that they work for the township rather than the other way around. Residents have been told that during the public comment period at the Supervisor Meetings, comments should be restricted to issues that have already been addressed to the Township Manager. At some public board meetings, residents have been told that they cannot ask questions. I understand that some residents may talk longer than is needed at public meetings, but as a Supervisor, standing up at the podium would mean to me that they have a concern that is important to them.

At a recent hot topic public meeting, residents were told at the onset they would be escorted out if they could not control their emotions. Is this any way to address residents? If the residents felt that the Supervisors were more connected to them, then the residents would not have these highly emotional feelings to begin with, and the extensive police presence would not have been required. Residents just want to talk to their elected officials. Why is the venue of a formal meeting treated any differently from talking to the Supervisors at the local shopping center?

After all, candidates knock on your door and ask to be elected, why do they forget this portion of the process after they are elected? In my mind this is because there is a difference between a “politician” and a “resident” who really wants to serve the public.

If the attitude from the top is disconnected from the residents, then this attitude will filter down.

I am retired so I don’t have the distraction of a daily job. My job if elected will be to work with you on your issues, not just show up twice a month for a meeting. I don’t have a political party agenda or ideology, only your interests are my concern. This is why for many months I have been putting my thoughts and my ideas in writing for your consideration.

Comments or questions can be addressed to raymondlopez2013@yahoo.com.

Remember the Supervisor candidates willing to work for you have the ballot positions of B-21 and B-22 on Tuesday November 5th.